Young' drivers pose a problem

Visakhapatnam: Curbing underage driving has become a challenge to the traffic police in the city. It was found to be the second most prevalent violation after drunken driving, at several areas in the city during special drives conducted by the cops. Traffic police are contemplating imprisonment to owners of vehciles driven by minors. A senior traffic police inspector said there have been some road accidents, involving minors, who would take their parents’ or friends’ vehicles out for a spin. Reportedly, some minor boys and girls have tried to offer bribe to traffic police constables at Siripuram area in the city not to book cases against them for riding bikes without driving licences and not to seize their vehicles.

It is because the parents are being negligent that underage driving is increasing, said ACP (Traffic) K Prabhakar. Recently, over 50 underaged drivers, including a few girls, were caught by the Visakha East traffic police at various places in the city when they were riding the bikes at high-speed. The underaged drivers and their parents were counselled by ACP rank police officers and the parents of each driver paid Rs 1,600 fine.

"We are authorised to release vehicles after collecting fines. We are planning to issue a challan against the owner of the vehicle and will send all the challans to the district court to check this violation," said ADCP (Traffic) K.M. Patrudu.